PROFILE

Everybody who is anybody is familiar with Aman Resorts, the chain of hotels and inns spanning 20 countries. Its current CEO maybe Russian Vladislav Doronin, but it was actually established by Indonesian Adrian Willem Lauw Zecha back in the day.

Indonesian superband Dewa 19 is releasing a new song, “Love is Blind”, in cooperation with major international musicians, including Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal (member of Sons of Apollo, former member of Guns N’ Roses) on guitar, Simon Phillips (former member of Toto) on drums, Derek Sherinian (former Dream Theater member) on keyboard, Dino Jelusic (Whitesnake) Jeff Scott Soto (Sons of Apollo) for the vocals, and Billy Sheehan (member of Mr. Big, Talas) as bassist. 

Nukila Evanty is a gender equality and human rights activist who conducts advocacy and training in border areas and regions with the most extensive distribution of migrant workers in Indonesia.

The Republic of Indonesia Ministry of Defense’s Reserve Component program, an initiative of Minister of Defense Prabowo Subianto, has attracted France’s attention. Recently, the Deputy Commander of France’s Territorial National Land Forces, Brig. Gen, Gilles Haberey, visited our Ministry of Defense’s Directorate of Defense Resources. 

Fahry Septian Putratama finally did it. Along with Jakarta LavAni Allo Bank, he won the Proliga 2023 and became the Most Valuable Player for Indonesia’s highest volleyball tournament. 

Beyond question, Indonesia is a big and lucrative market for drug trafficking in the national, regional and international networks. It is also strategically located near the Golden Triangle – the northern part of Southeast Asia, including Burma, Laos and Thailand – which is infamous as the largest heroin and opium producer on the planet.

Nukila Evanty, Executive Director of the Women Working Group (WWG) was born in Bagansiapiapi, Riau, and today is a known gender equality activist. She is an advocate for the rights of minorities, the marginalized and the vulnerable

DJ, music producer and song writer Kygo can’t wait to meet his fans at Sunset Beach, Beach City Stadium Ancol, Jakarta, on 17 March, for a concert of “Kygo Music in Jakarta”. He will collaborate with a number of special guests such as Frank Walker, along with Indonesian DJs Winky Wirawan, Devarra and Thincut.

Talking with Ayuningtyas “Tyas” Widari Ramdhaniar is always a pleasure. She has a sharp wit, honed by her life experiences, which she related exclusively to us at the Independent Observer. That afternoon, I met up with Tyas at the Aston Hotel Kemayoran, Central Jakarta. She looked chic in her blue blazer suit, and a simple “Hello, how are you?” opened up our meeting. 

Indonesian badminton is in mourning: talented athlete Az-Zahra Putri Dania died an untimely death, at the age of 19, of lymphatic node cancer, on Monday, 27 February.

Soetan Sjahrir, a great man who contributed immensely to the Independence of the Republic Indonesia and became its first Prime Minister in his prime at 36, was a March-born man.